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About Rupa (Ivy)

​​Yoga has been Ivy’s life since 1996 in China. She began teaching yoga in 2000 in China and has been teaching in Canada since she immigrated in 2006.

Ivy’s journey with Yoga began with her own suffering.

As a runner in university Ivy has won medals in university provincial competition. But the physical strength and glory didn't bring true happiness in the life. Instead, Ivy’s knee was always an issue whenever weather changed or energy was low. The pain would come and go; Ivy accepted it as part of her body and her life, at that time.​Right after her first travel to Tibet, in November 1996, at her first Yoga class in China, Ivy felt the magic of Yoga at once. She knew that was exactly what she needed. Her teacher, Master Tan, who had over 70 years experience with Hatha yoga, gave Ivy a grounded understanding of Yoga: Yoga is more than stretch and strength; more than having a relaxed body and calm mind, it’s a life attitude. Yoga will help to connect with the power inside. Through in-class and daily life practice, Yoga gives balance to body, mind and spirit.

In April 2011, Ivy’s knee pain was so serious that she felt pain every time she taught Yoga. Sometimes she had to hold on to the handrail when she walked the stairs. It was scary to think that Ivy could not teach Yoga anymore because of the pain. As a Yoga instructor and Yoga practitioner for over 15 years, Ivy was wondering why the Yoga practice that is suppose to bring health does not work on her?​In October 2011, Ivy found Susi Hately Aldous, a registered kinesiologist and Yoga teacher, and fell in love the magic of pure Yoga movement at once. She knew that is exactly what she needed. Susi Hately showed Ivy to let go and to enjoy Yoga in a simply way. In less than half year, with the help of pure Yoga movement, Ivy’s lower back pain was gone, and her knee was much more improved.

After 16 years of continuous practice, study and teaching Yoga, in 2012, Rupa (Ivy) began her Bhakti Yoga practice in the Sampradaya (traditional way) guided by her Guru Sri Nitai Charan Thakura. She has shifted her teaching to the traditional way of practicing Yoga, through awareness of body movement to recognize the pulse of emotion and at last recognize our own divinity -- our true nature is part of the Divine. This practice is to use our body as an instrument, towards the goal of Yoga: to know our Self. In this way one can become joyful and progressively advance towards the path of the Absolute Truth and attain a happy, wholesome and holistic life.